Food cravings mediate the relationship between chronic stress and body mass index

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between chronic stress, food cravings, and body mass index. A community-based sample of adults (N = 619) completed a comprehensive assessment battery and heights and weights were measured. Chronic stress had a significant direct effect on food cravings, and food cravings had a significant direct effect on body mass index. The total effect of chronic stress on body mass index was significant. Food cravings partially mediated the relationship between chronic stress and body mass index. These findings are consistent with research that chronic stress may potentiate motivation for rewarding substances and behaviors and indicate that high food cravings may contribute to stress-related weight gain.

Craving Behavior Intervention in Ameliorating College Students' Internet Game Disorder: A Longitudinal Study

“…The present study detected depression release and shifting of psychological needs satisfaction from Internet to real life significantly predict craving amelioration at both post-intervention and 6-month follow-up. Similarly, many previous researches have observed the mediation effect of craving amelioration on the relationship between negative emotion (e.g., depression) or stress and severity of addiction in substance use disorders (Witkiewitz and Bowen, 2010; Witkiewitz et al, 2011) and behavioral disorder (Chao et al, 2015). Recent review studies have hypothesized a framework of craving-as-emotion that various affective states can precipitate cravings and varies according to context (Heckman et al, 2013; Sayette, 2016).…”

A comparison of a behavioral weight loss program to a stress management program: A pilot randomized controlled trial

“…Since stress is linked to eating habits and obesity, a further exploration of a combination of these two approaches may be warranted. Stress is a significant contributor to non-homeostatic caloric intake and food has been indicated as a preferred self-medication method in response to chronic stress [19,45]. Thus, addressing stress levels and increasing stress resilience in the context of the obesity treatment may have much more profound as well as sustained effects than behavioral intervention alone.…”

“…Imaging studies as well as animal studies may provide insight into the underlying neural mechanisms that control emotional eating. Recent evidence in humans however suggests a direct link from the hypothalamus into the dorsal and ventral striatum, brain regions typically associated with reward and satiety [19, 46]. Furthermore, studies have shown that VTA neurons contain melanocortin (MC4) receptors, which are known to be key regulators of food intake and weight gain [47].…”

“…Stress is one activator of the dopaminergic (DA) system and has an impact on food intake through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Specifically, recent evidence in humans suggests a direct link from the hypothalamus into the dorsal and ventral striatum, brain regions associated with reward and satiety [18, 19]. Highly palatable foods, such as those high in sugar and fat, increase extracellular dopamine, thus increasing the perception of reward [20, 21].…”

“…While the link between stress regulation of the HPA and limbic reward centers is still not clearly understood, it suggests a possible mechanism by which stress can govern food intake, resulting in obesity. Furthermore, it provides grounds to suggest that stress management techniques may help to “reset” the neurochemical regulation of food intake, resulting in more maintainable weight-loss interventions [19, 20]. …”